We do know a few things though: There seems to be inconsistency in how much Anthem, Aetna, Cigna and Harvard Pilgrim pay for addiction services, and how much they pay based on a patient's age. But it's too early to say if those apparent inconsistencies mean insurers aren't following federal and state laws.

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The Insurance Department presented these findings Friday to the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment. Chairman Timothy Rourke says there's still a big question unanswered.

"Do people's insurance cards work? Whether they get a cancer diagnosis, or a substance use diagnosis, does their insurance card work the same?" Rourke says. "That ultimately is what I think what we care about the most."

The Insurance Department's full report should be complete this summer.

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As New Hampshire tries to address an epidemic of opiate abuse, leaders in the state often focus on increasing the number of treatment beds and programs. But many in the state say staffing those programs may be much harder than building them.

Addiction treatment programs have been facing staffing shortages across the country for many years. In New Hampshire, things are particularly bad.

A federal bill that provides money for addiction treatment and drug prevention has passed its first hurdle. Senators Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen co-sponsored the legislation.

The bill calls for additional dollars for a number of areas including treatment for people battling addiction while in prison, drug prevention efforts in schools, and expanding access to the overdose reversal drug Narcan.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure by a unanimous vote. But how much of the bill’s $70 million would go to New Hampshire is unknown.